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Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

Detroit Red Wings players know several things about their teammates: Pavel Datsyuk has a delightful wit. Tomas Tatar is a non-stop chatterer. Todd Bertuzzi is sweeter than his gruff countenance. Jimmy Howard is a soft talker.

Over the next month, players are curious to see how much of that will come across on HBO’s “24/7,” which will show the Wings behind the scenes leading up to the Winter Classic against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium. Cameras started rolling this past week, with the first of four episodes airing this coming Saturday.

“I think it’s going to be, for the first week or so, kind of a test-zone for the guys,” Bertuzzi said. “I think it’ll take a little bit for this team to show its personality. We’ve got some clowns, like Tatar and a handful of others.”

Speaking as Bertuzzi stood two feet away grinning, Tatar played it coy: “If the camera finds me, I’ll be on it. I won’t do anything special.”

There is pretty much universal agreement within the locker room that if cameras and microphones can transcend Datsyuk’s heavily accented English, people are in for a treat. “He comes across quiet,” Justin Abdelkader said, “but maybe once you get a camera on him, his personality will come out more. He talks more around us. We get to hear a little more. He’s very funny.

“All the guys are unique in different ways. We’ll just have to wait and see what they get.”

Players are used to being on cameras for interviews, but this is very different, they recognize. Some said they won’t watch until it’s all over, like later in January. Others know they’ll be drawn in now. “I have two kids, so I’m sure they’ll want to watch,” Bertuzzi said.

Bertuzzi will be interesting to watch, to see if cameras can capture the “warm and fuzzy” aspect of his nature, as described by former teammate Chris Osgood.

Other traits that could be revealed: Jonathan Ericsson has a terrific sense of humor. Brendan Smith can be heard across the room when he talks. Daniel Alfredsson is extremely polite. Johan Franzen will spend five minutes trying to talk reporters out of interviewing him.